I think it's probably the best book of the 21st century. Like all great works of literature it's about how people see themselves and relate to other people. It's also about how storytelling is a defining characteristic of the human experience.

The plot is that a young man acquires and publishes a manuscript from his former neighbor that is an analysis of a movie.

It has three main storylines. The central narrative is the movie which is about a family that moves into a house that's a gateway to another dimension. The other two stories are told in footnotes by the author and the publisher.

It's up to the reader to decide how the stories fit together. Another feature of great literature is that it's not a passive listening experience, but an active and engaging process by the reader.

In the middle of the book is over 25 pages of bibliography and film listings. This is to illustrate three key points of the book: A book is a puzzle that you have to work at solving if you want it to give up it's secrets. A story is an intangible thing created in the imagination of the reader and not in the words on a page. I'll leave the third lesson up to you to find.

It also has different colored text, font, font size, writing direction including backwards writing to view in a mirror, coded messages, poems, diary entries and photographs.

Non-fiction: I'll post that later.

YES YES YES THIS A THOUSAND TIMES THIS

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 1:31 am

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HogyMaster

Joined: 14 Dec 2011Posts: 951Location: Nar Shaddaa

I don't really have a favorite book, but I think that when you're feeling down Douglas Adams and his Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series works better than any pill ever could.

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:58 am

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ReepicheepMaster

Joined: 05 Feb 2008Posts: 7613Location: Sailing into the unknown

We should start a reading club. _________________
Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter east.

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:59 am

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Darth SkuldrenModerator

Joined: 04 Feb 2008Posts: 6844Location: Missouri

The hard part would be picking a book to start with._________________
"I believe toys resonate with us as humans, we can hold them them, it's tactile, real! They are totems for our extended beliefs and imaginations. A fetish for ideas that hold as much interest and passion as old religious relics for some. We display them in our homes. They show who we are. They are signals for similar thinking people. A way we connect with each other...and I guess thats why I do toys. That connection." -Ashley Wood

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:01 am

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ReepicheepMaster

Joined: 05 Feb 2008Posts: 7613Location: Sailing into the unknown

The first mentioned. Then go from there._________________
Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter east.

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:50 am

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SidiousThrawnKnight

Joined: 07 Feb 2012Posts: 358Location: USA

Darth Skuldren wrote:

The hard part would be picking a book to start with.

Take a poll. I'm interested in reading HOUSE OF LEAVES._________________"Study art...", said Thrawn.

"Vote for Papa Palpatine".

Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:13 pm

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Dog-Poop_WalkerMaster

Joined: 28 Jan 2012Posts: 1481Location: Soul of Cinder

If people want to revive the book club/reading group, can they start a new thread for it?

Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:59 pm

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Darth SkuldrenModerator

Joined: 04 Feb 2008Posts: 6844Location: Missouri

If you haven't read Heroes Die, Suvudu has the first 50 pages up online. I highly recommend checking it out and seeing if you like it. As I said earlier, the Acts of Caine would be on my essential reading list. Stover's personal fiction is a lot different from his Star Wars stuff, but just as enjoyable.

http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2012/03/50-page-fridays-matthew-woodring-stover.html_________________
"I believe toys resonate with us as humans, we can hold them them, it's tactile, real! They are totems for our extended beliefs and imaginations. A fetish for ideas that hold as much interest and passion as old religious relics for some. We display them in our homes. They show who we are. They are signals for similar thinking people. A way we connect with each other...and I guess thats why I do toys. That connection." -Ashley Wood

I've read ten of them. I've started (and plan on finishing) four of them. I plan on reading them all someday. _________________
Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter east.

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:52 am

Message

Ruhk OrikanKnight

Joined: 30 Apr 2011Posts: 222

I don't have a favorite fiction series, but for non-fiction, philosophy in particular, I head straight for Friedrich Nietzsche and Ayn Rand, to a lesser extant.

I've read just about every book on that list, and own many of them, but to me, these were the only ones worth re-reading:

The merit of this list is wholly preference. The last entry is listed purely for its devotion to the idea of a 'tragedy' that hasn't been seen in this grand style since the death of the Bard. One is a comic series but its more intelligent than a lot of modern literature. Huxley's contribution should speak for itself, as should Dante's (Dante wrote the best work of literature known to man, at least to me). My reccommended list is...significantly longer lol_________________Perfection is a lifelong pursuit requiring sacrifice. The only way to get it quicker is to sacrifice the most.

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:14 pm

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ReepicheepMaster

Joined: 05 Feb 2008Posts: 7613Location: Sailing into the unknown

I guess I should say what I read on the list...

I have read:
6 The Bible - Epic read. 8 Nineteen Eighty Four  George Orwell - Definitely deserving of it's classic status, but too dreary and political for my tastes.
16 The Hobbit  JRR Tolkien - Great book. Lighter and more fun than LOTR.
30 The Wind in the Willows  Kenneth Grahame I just finished this one recently. Delightful book and more contemplative than I expected.
33 Chronicles of Narnia  CS Lewis Life-changing stuff for me. These books began a "movement" that would revolutionize my views on religion, history, and literature (now my three favourite academic subjects). Also truly delightful reads.
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe  CS Lewis I'm not sure why this was listed separately. Great book.
41 Animal Farm  George Orwell I liked this better than 1984, but I still didn't love it.
61 Of Mice and Men  John Steinbeck Decent.
81 A Christmas Carol  Charles Dickens One of my favourite stories of all time. No matter how many versions I watch/read, it never gets old.
98 Hamlet  William Shakespeare My first classic! Truth be told, I don't remember it much. I should re-read it.

These are the ones I'm yet to finish:
2 The Lord of the Rings  JRR Tolkien *sigh* I'll admit it: I haven't finished LOTR, though I love it.
4 The Harry Potter Series  JK Rowling I read the first three, moderately enjoyed them, but got intimidated at the size of The Goblet of Fire and haven't continued yet.
10 Great Expectations  Charles Dickens A good book, but long.
94 Watership Down  Richard Adams Beautifully written, but not a book to rush through.

@Caedus: Why do you think the Divine Comedy is the best literature? Don't get me wrong, I thought the Divine Comedy was excellent, but I'm curious to hear your reasoning._________________
Where sky and water meet,
Where the waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
To find all you seek,
There is the utter east.

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:35 pm

Message

DannikJerrikoEUC Staff

Joined: 09 Nov 2011Posts: 1236Location: Nirn

For some reason the end of Animal Farm

Click here to see the hidden message (It might contain spoilers)

where the pigs are dressed up as and acting like people

genuinely scared me.

I believe the only Shakespeare I've read is Richard III, which I very much enjoyed.

I'd like to read some of those steampunk dystopians as well._________________There's always a bigger fish - Qui Gon Jinn.

You shall learn that history is an intricate weaving of many events. No one thing can be understood without the proper context.

The best techniques are passed on by the survivors.

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:59 pm

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Salaris VornModerator

Joined: 02 Feb 2008Posts: 2335Location: New York, USA

Reepicheep wrote:

BBC made a Top 100 Novels list:

6 The Bible

Are we talking the Bible as in the founding text of Christianity? Or is there another book going by that name (it would not surprise me if a group like Monty Python wrote a book and then jokingly called it "The Bible")?_________________